After 2 years of campaigning, the ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ Initiative, launched in January 2020, has surpassed one million votes, calling on the European Commission to ban the trade of detached shark fins in Europe. Anne-Sophie Mouraud, our founder, joined the movement in December 2020 as a campaign manager and will become a member of the core team to help develop the strategy in France and internationally.

This is an unprecedented movement for sharks at a European and global scale, supported by more than 100 partner organizations and numerous influencers, activists, athletes, actors, and many others from around the world!

The representatives of the ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ Initiative presented the arguments and goals of a ban on shark fin trade in Europe to European Commissioners during a meeting in Brussels. The commissioners listened attentively to the presentation on how ending the trade of detached shark fins would support the EU’s strategic objectives for marine conservation. After the official meeting, many Commission representatives stayed to ask more detailed questions and see the dried shark fins brought by the team, which came from confiscated shipments.

The European Commission is the authority responsible for determining the outcomes of the ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ European Citizens’ Initiative (ICE).

The ‘Stop Finning – Stop the Trade’ ICE was the subject of a public hearing within the PECH (Fishing Committee) of the European Parliament, in association with the ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee) and PETI (Petitions Committee).

A group of experts from the Initiative spoke on behalf of the more than 1.1 million Europeans who signed in support of the initiative. The legendary oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle, opened the session to show her support for the Initiative, in front of EU decision-makers, raising awareness of the importance of sharks and the urgency of banning the trade in fins in the region.

You can watch the full public hearing below directly on the European Parliament website. Virginijus Sinkevicius, the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries in 2023, guided the hearing and expressed his support for the ICE.

The plenary session is the moment when “Members of the European Parliament participate in the EU decision-making process and express their views towards the Commission and the Council.”

Spanish Members of the European Parliament opposed the call for a ban on shark fin trade, stating that their fleets do not engage in finning and emphasizing the importance of existing regulations. Read the full article on Euractiv about the issue.

However, many supporters argue that the trade of detached fins perpetuates overfishing and hinders global shark conservation efforts, echoing the sentiments expressed by Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius: “There is a global problem with sharks, and we should take our responsibility.” The EU’s significant role in the fin trade, particularly through Spain’s involvement, highlights the need for action.

You can watch the plenary debate below.

The European Commission gives its official response to the European Citizens’ Initiative “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade.”

In this response, the Commission acknowledges that initial research conducted over the past few months has shown that the shark fin trade is problematic and that the EU must take action. It therefore proposes conducting an impact assessment that will closely examine the consequences of shark fishing and potential regulations on the fin trade. This assessment will serve as the basis for deciding what type of regulation or legislation is necessary. The study will evaluate the economic, environmental, and social consequences of banning the trade in shark fins.

This response is a great result for the “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade” Initiative. Indeed, the Commission could have determined that the current regulations were sufficient and simply needed to be adapted. This response keeps the door open for the ultimate goal of a complete ban on the trade of shark fins, which we have set for ourselves.

While the decision to undertake an impact assessment does not guarantee legislation, it is a necessary step. Creating a law for 27 countries is complex and takes time. Economic figures need to be considered, and when it comes to sharks, this has never been done before, and the European Commission has the ability to do so.

However, the clear concern will be to ensure that all impacts are studied in the same way, including social and environmental impacts, biodiversity, ecotourism, coastal communities, and subsistence fishing impacts. It is clear that the industrial fishing lobby views this as merely an impact on its revenues. This is a critical aspect of the process that we must now monitor. There are still many obstacles to overcome, and we will need maximum support in Europe and worldwide to continue putting pressure on EU decision-makers.

With this official response, the Commission has fulfilled the mandate requested by the ECI. Commission members have clearly indicated that the issue of shark fin trade is now entering the “normal political process.” From now on, the Commission will act because it has recognized the need to do so and is willing to make it a priority alongside the many other proposals it will review in the coming years. For nature protection advocates and the European coalition “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade,” this means we are entering a political battle, just like any other legislative proposal. Developing a powerful campaign capable of successfully carrying this project forward over the next two years will be a major challenge, as it will require constant attention, funding, and action to succeed. This is why we will need many partners to unite and support this project with full commitment.

We are currently in this crucial stage and we need you more than ever!

In response to the citizen initiative “Stop finning – Stop the trade,” the European Commission launched the impact study on February 22, aimed at evaluating the environmental, economic, and social consequences of a ban on the trade of shark fins within the European territory.

This period takes place in 2 key phases:

• A call for contributions open until May 16, 2024: If you are an expert, researcher, NGO, or anyone with evidence that can support our call for a ban, we count on you!
• A public consultation open until June 4, 2024: This takes the form of an online questionnaire addressed to people around the world. Every response is valuable, and to guide you in this process, we have prepared guidelines with the “Stop Finning – Stop the Trade” team.